“So our catchments are at capacity and this is the first time all four dams have overflowed at the same time.”

At the Cotter Dam, water cascades 80m down over steps engineered to disperse its energy, before gently landing into a spilling pond below.

Returning to the Cotter River for several hundred metres, the water flows alongside an avenue generations of Canberrans have cherished.

ACT Parks and Conservation regional manager Mr McNamara almost burned to death, lost his home and grieved for the Cotter Avenue in the aftermath of the 2003 Canberra firestorm which destroyed 90 per cent of Namadgi National Park.

“I have strong memories of the old picnic area and camping ground and playground, made out of the Koppers logs,” he said.

“It was just smouldering after the fires had swept through. The bridge had burnt down, all the trees were completely smashed, it was like a war zone.”

The avenue later became a construction zone for the Cotter Dam’s enlargement and now, peaceful as the sun-baking water dragons along the river banks, settles into a new chapter of Canberra’s history.

“This resonates with generations of Canberrans, the Cotter Avenue, old Cotter pub, ‘back to the Cotter’ sort of stuff,” Mr McNamara said.

“And it speaks of early recreational Canberra, the 1920s and ’30s, when the Federal politicians and bureaucrats arrived and wanted to go fishing.”

A tourist hot spot drawing up to 300,000 visitors annually, Cotter Avenue could be lined with hotels and wedding venues today. They are among previous suggestions for redevelopment, but in the firestorm’s aftermath the public was asked what they wanted.

“The message that came back was keep it simple, don’t overdo it. What people appreciate is the open space … the trees,” Mr McNamara said.

Working with a bushfire standby crew on Christmas day last year Mr McNamara turned into the avenue that traditionally is dead at this time, to find it alive and packed with Middle Eastern people.

“There was this wonderful festival party atmosphere – people on large carpets and blankets, sharing food. The most remarkable part of that day, a lady came up to me, I was in my fire gear, and in broken English she asked, ‘How many people are working today?'” I said about 25 people.

“‘Wait, wait, wait,’ she says and goes back to the group where she was sitting and comes back with this wonderful tray of cherries and gives them to me for Christmas day. Her husband behind her has a carton of beer.”

Mr McNamara expects more people will kick back and relax at Casuarina sands, Cotter Bend, Charlies Point and the beautiful, shady green Cotter Avenue, because smaller housing blocks and bigger homes in the new Molonglo suburbs leave less room for playing outside. People are heading bush, and after a wet winter camping grounds have plenty of stored rainwater.

My father was part of a consortium which bought the old Cotter Tavern in 1972 planning to reopen it before the then Department of the Interior intervened to nullify the sale. As things turned out it eventually did reopen under different owners and became a much-loved Canberra icon, especially during summer.

Was your father the owner of Bacchus Tavern in University Avenue?

Uncle Theo opened Bacchus Tavern in 1968 and when we moved to Canberra in 1970 my father and uncle operated it as a partnership which at various times over the years also owned or operated Charlies Restaurant, Neptunes Tavern, The Tower Restaurant, Punchinello, The Terrace Tavern, Bogarts, The Gold Creek Function Centre and the Regatta Point Restaurant.

Thanks for revealing that fascinating piece of the family history. I knew some of your family through business and I know what hard working people they were. You should be proud of the contribution they made to old Canberra.

I remember several of those great restaurants during the 1980s. I think the first restaurant I dined in Canberra was Bogarts – I recall it was in Canberra House, behind the Canberra Club. It convinced me to move to Canberra actually.

My favourites were the Tower Restaurant (for special occasions) and Bacchus Tavern (for long lunches). The steaks and chips plus the great wine selection at The Bacchus always had me looking forward to the next visit. Every time I was there I was always asked if everything was up to expectations and I always said “yes, excellent”.

The FBT killed off a lot of good restaurants. I often wonder if things like the FBT were dreamed up by politicians while enjoying their taxpayer subsidised dining at their exclusive restaurants in parliament house.

Sad for today’s restaurant set who think rubbish like pulled pork and smashed avacados is the standard. They never had the opportunity to dine at the Bacchus.

My father was part of a consortium which bought the old Cotter Tavern in 1972 planning to reopen it before the then Department of the Interior intervened to nullify the sale. As things turned out it eventually did reopen under different owners and became a much-loved Canberra icon, especially during summer.

Was your father the owner of Bacchus Tavern in University Avenue?

Uncle Theo opened Bacchus Tavern in 1968 and when we moved to Canberra in 1970 my father and uncle operated it as a partnership which at various times over the years also owned or operated Charlies Restaurant, Neptunes Tavern, The Tower Restaurant, Punchinello, The Terrace Tavern, Bogarts, The Gold Creek Function Centre and the Regatta Point Restaurant.

My father was part of a consortium which bought the old Cotter Tavern in 1972 planning to reopen it before the then Department of the Interior intervened to nullify the sale. As things turned out it eventually did reopen under different owners and became a much-loved Canberra icon, especially during summer.

My father was part of a consortium which bought the old Cotter Tavern in 1972 planning to reopen it before the then Department of the Interior intervened to nullify the sale. As things turned out it eventually did reopen under different owners and became a much-loved Canberra icon, especially during summer.

Amendments to give renters more rights have passed the Legislative Assembly. It will be easier for renters to keep a pet, make minor modifications to their rental property, and to break a lease without incurring significant costs https://t.co/UG9YEv9ilQ(5 hours ago)